PAS today dismissed a proposal by the Election Commission (EC) to do away with parades by political parties on nomination day for the next general election.

Its president, Abdul Hadi Awang, no valid reason was given for the abolition of the parades, especially in terms of security.

"The parades on nomination day have been the practice since before independence and have become a part of the electoral democratic process in our country," he said in a statement on the PAS official website.

The EC had announced on Feb 1 that it was considering doing away with the parades for the contesting candidates on nomination day, with EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof reported as saying that this would result in a peaceful environment on that day.

He had said that the EC proposed to allow only 10 supporters to accompany the contesting candidates to the nomination centre.

Abdul Hadi said an election is not just a matter of crossing on the ballot paper against the name of the elected representative of one's choice but encompassed the whole democratic process and fulfilled the people's right to obtain information in a fair and just manner.
 
- Bernama